Wellington Webb
Encyclopedia
Wellington E. Webb is a former mayor of Denver, Colorado
. He is a graduate of the city's Manual High School. He was Denver's first African-American Mayor.
Webb served as mayor of Denver for 12 years, from 1991 to 2003. One highlight of his years in office was the South Platte River Corridor Project, involving commercial and residential redevelopment, as well as reclamation of park land, along the South Platte River
in central Denver. He was also mayor at the time of the completion of Denver International Airport
, started by his precessor, Federico Peña
. Prior to Webb's tenure as mayor, he succeeded Mike Geselbracht as Denver City Auditor and served from 1987 to 1991, and as Executive Director of the Colorado Department of Regulatory Agenices in the Cabinet of Governor Richard Lamm
from 1981 to 1987.
He is married to Wilma J. Webb, and they have four children.
Wellington Webb's bid for mayor included his "Sneaker Campaign", in which he walked door to door through a large portion of Denver, introducing himself as a relatively unknown candidate.
Webb was mentioned in the documentary Bowling for Columbine
during a speech by National Rifle Association president Charlton Heston
. In April 1999, shortly after the high school shootings at Columbine High School
near Denver, Heston claimed that Webb had asked him not to come to Denver.
Although he briefly sought the office of chairman of the Democratic National Committee
in late 2004, Webb dropped out of the race in late January 2005 and endorsed fellow candidate Howard Dean
, who went on to win the chairmanship. Webb was well known as the only African-American candidate for the DNC chairmanship.
In February 2007, Webb published his autobiography, "The Man, the Mayor and the Making of Modern Denver," (Fulcrum Publishing) co-written by former Colorado journalist Cindy Brovsky. In that book he mentioned his colleague in the state house, Rich Castro.
The Wellington E. Webb Municipal Office Building, completed in Fall 2002, was named in honor of Webb. It houses some forty municipal agencies and divisions from the City and County of Denver, as well as the office of the District Attorney.
In 2008, Webb voted for Barack Obama
and Joe Biden
as one of Colorado's presidential electors.
Denver, Colorado
The City and County of Denver is the capital and the most populous city of the U.S. state of Colorado. Denver is a consolidated city-county, located in the South Platte River Valley on the western edge of the High Plains just east of the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains...
. He is a graduate of the city's Manual High School. He was Denver's first African-American Mayor.
Webb served as mayor of Denver for 12 years, from 1991 to 2003. One highlight of his years in office was the South Platte River Corridor Project, involving commercial and residential redevelopment, as well as reclamation of park land, along the South Platte River
South Platte River
The South Platte River is one of the two principal tributaries of the Platte River and itself a major river of the American Midwest and the American Southwest/Mountain West, located in the U.S. states of Colorado and Nebraska...
in central Denver. He was also mayor at the time of the completion of Denver International Airport
Denver International Airport
Denver International Airport , often referred to as DIA, is an airport in Denver, Colorado. By land size, at , it is the largest international airport in the United States, and the third largest international airport in the world after King Fahd International Airport and Montréal-Mirabel...
, started by his precessor, Federico Peña
Federico Peña
Federico Fabian Peña is a former United States Secretary of Transportation from 1993 to 1997 and United States Secretary of Energy from 1997 to 1998, during the presidency of Bill Clinton....
. Prior to Webb's tenure as mayor, he succeeded Mike Geselbracht as Denver City Auditor and served from 1987 to 1991, and as Executive Director of the Colorado Department of Regulatory Agenices in the Cabinet of Governor Richard Lamm
Richard Lamm
Richard Douglas "Dick" Lamm is an American politician, Certified Public Accountant, college professor, and lawyer. He served three terms as 38th Governor of Colorado as a Democrat and ran for the Reform Party's nomination for President of the United States in 1996.He is currently the Co-Director...
from 1981 to 1987.
He is married to Wilma J. Webb, and they have four children.
Webb was mentioned in the documentary Bowling for Columbine
Bowling for Columbine
Bowling for Columbine is a 2002 documentary film written, directed, produced, and narrated by Michael Moore. The film explores what Michael Moore suggests are the causes for the Columbine High School massacre and other acts of violence with guns...
during a speech by National Rifle Association president Charlton Heston
Charlton Heston
Charlton Heston was an American actor of film, theatre and television. Heston is known for heroic roles in films such as The Ten Commandments, Ben-Hur for which he won the Academy Award for Best Actor, El Cid, and Planet of the Apes...
. In April 1999, shortly after the high school shootings at Columbine High School
Columbine High School
Columbine High School or CHS is a high school in unincorporated Jefferson County, Colorado, United States.- History :Columbine High School opened in the fall of 1973. There was no senior class in its first year. The school's first graduating class was the class of 1975...
near Denver, Heston claimed that Webb had asked him not to come to Denver.
Although he briefly sought the office of chairman of the Democratic National Committee
Democratic National Committee
The Democratic National Committee is the principal organization governing the United States Democratic Party on a day to day basis. While it is responsible for overseeing the process of writing a platform every four years, the DNC's central focus is on campaign and political activity in support...
in late 2004, Webb dropped out of the race in late January 2005 and endorsed fellow candidate Howard Dean
Howard Dean
Howard Brush Dean III is an American politician and physician from Vermont. He served six terms as the 79th Governor of Vermont and ran unsuccessfully for the 2004 Democratic presidential nomination. He was chairman of the Democratic National Committee from 2005 to 2009. Although his U.S...
, who went on to win the chairmanship. Webb was well known as the only African-American candidate for the DNC chairmanship.
In February 2007, Webb published his autobiography, "The Man, the Mayor and the Making of Modern Denver," (Fulcrum Publishing) co-written by former Colorado journalist Cindy Brovsky. In that book he mentioned his colleague in the state house, Rich Castro.
The Wellington E. Webb Municipal Office Building, completed in Fall 2002, was named in honor of Webb. It houses some forty municipal agencies and divisions from the City and County of Denver, as well as the office of the District Attorney.
In 2008, Webb voted for Barack Obama
Barack Obama
Barack Hussein Obama II is the 44th and current President of the United States. He is the first African American to hold the office. Obama previously served as a United States Senator from Illinois, from January 2005 until he resigned following his victory in the 2008 presidential election.Born in...
and Joe Biden
Joe Biden
Joseph Robinette "Joe" Biden, Jr. is the 47th and current Vice President of the United States, serving under President Barack Obama...
as one of Colorado's presidential electors.
External links
- Biography by DenverGov.org - Focuses mostly on Webb's service as city auditor
- The Wellington E. Webb Municipal Office Building - Information and pictures
- South Platte project